I talk a lot about my life changing experience from two years ago. Why? It’s not out of a need to dwell on the past. It’s out of a desire to process all the ways in which my life and my outlook has changed. It’s out of a desire to help others.
I remember when I gave my life to the Lord, I had the same experience. Receiving the Holy Spirit was a sudden and drastic change. It changed everything! When I looked at the world, it was like I had brand new eyes. I listened to the same song, yet this time I would hear the spiritual intention behind the lyrics. I would watch the same television show, yet this time I would see it for what it really was. So many things that I never paid attention to were now filtered through a whole new set of eyes. At that time, I talked about my experience as much as I could. I shared it with people in an effort to process it and to help others. It became apparent that I had previously been walking through life blind as a bat. This meant that many others were still walking around blind. I wanted to help them see.
I’ll never forget the day I got glasses. I was in the 6h grade. Many friends were finding out they needed glasses and wearing glasses was becoming pretty cool (believe it or not!). I went home and told my mom that I was having trouble seeing, hoping that I could also don a new pair of glasses at school. I went to the eye doctor, and lo and behold, I did need glasses! I had been lying and didn’t even know that I truly was half-blind. I can still remember wearing those glasses that first day. Wow! I had no idea that the ground had so much detail. I could see pebbles and bugs and different colors. I thought it was just a sheet of plain brown. It was fun to see things in a new and clearer way. It was like a whole new world.
I find myself feeling the exact same way now. I was forced into a sudden and drastic life change two years ago. I realize now that I was walking through life blind. I wasn’t spiritually blind because that change had taken place a while back. But, I was blind to so much of the physical. I also realize now that the majority of people are still walking around blind and, like the pre-glasses Kelly, they don’t even know it.
When I got glasses, I thought to myself, “I wish I would have known this sooner.” When I got saved…same thought. When I changed my physical lifestyle…same thought. So, what do I naturally think next? Others need to know sooner so they don’t have to suffer like I did!
I wish I could describe all of the things that look different now. That is part of the purpose of this blog. I will give you just two examples to think about.:
Kelly 2011: If the FDA approves it, and it’s sold in a grocery store or at a restaurant, it’s FOOD.
Kelly 2014: Food is something that nourishes your body, something that your body can pull nutrients from and send to your cells to do the work required to live without disease or cancer.
Kelly 2011: I live my life and eat when I get hungry by grabbing what’s most convenient and/or most pleasurable. I don’t plan ahead. Food is everywhere. There’s food at the drive thru and the concession stand. There’s food everywhere. I’ll grab what I can when I can.
Kelly 2014: Food is hard to come by, even at the grocery store. Most of what is sold as “food” is toxic to the human body and contains little to no nutrients. I have to plan ahead if I wish to feed my body and prevent disease and cancer.
Growing up, my mom cooked dinner sometimes, but I didn’t really pay attention or learn how to cook. Now as a 34 year old woman, I am learning how to cook vegetables. Of course, when I got married I knew how to make the standards – spaghetti, tacos, and chili. But, how to properly cook vegetables and nutritious meals, real food like our ancestors ate, uh no not really! Growing up, I ate Tuna Helper, Kraft mac & cheese, and Mrs.Paul’s fish sticks much of the time. It’s food, right? It makes me feel full and happy. Isn’t that the goal? NO! There are a lot of substances that could make your belly feel full. That doesn’t mean they are FOOD. Think about it. Just because it tastes good and it’s called food and you feel full afterwards does NOT mean that it’s food. And even if it is food, what non-food items were added to it and went down your digestive system along with the food?
I paid dearly for the “food” I ate for 32 years. Many, many, many people are paying the high price for the “food” they eat, and sadly most of them are oblivious to the fact that the “food” is the cause of their suffering. They’re told it’s just their genes. But, I digress.
I’ve been saddened when my boys have friends over for dinner and the kids have never tried much of what I cook for dinner and, in fact, are disgusted by it. That was exactly how I was as a child and even as an adult. If a child has never tried cabbage or brussel sprouts, that’s not good. When I ask their friends, “What kinds of veggies do you like? ” They say what I would have said two years ago: green beans, corn, and peas. In other words, veggies that come in a can or are served on a buffet. Why are those the ones named? Because for some kids, those are the only veggies they’ve ever been exposed to.
Who wants to join me in feeding our kids real food that actually does more than just fill up their tummies? Let’s feed our kids nutrients that will keep them from developing diabetes or cancer. Cancer is an epidemic, and diabetes is predicted to soon effect 1 in 3 people, including children. Let’s start a less sugar, more veggies revolution! Not because it gives us more temporary pleasure but because it is actually food.
More importantly, let’s open our eyes. Let’s not be duped by big business that could care less about what we put into our gut. Let’s read ingredient labels and if we don’t know what the stuff is then look it up! Since when do people just put unknown items into their mouths? I’ll tell you…since big business told us to. Don’t be blind. Don’t believe those who don’t care about you or your children. Open your eyes before it’s too late.